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TAXBITS Volume VII 40th Issue September - October 2016

Volume VII 40th Issue September - October 2016

You heard it first at the Senate Tax Forum! After much anticipation leading up to the national elections, the Department of Finance through Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua presented the Duterte administration’s chief vehicle to finance the 10-point socio-economic agenda – the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package – at the Tax Forum Series 1 spearheaded by the Senate Tax Study and Research Office (STSRO). The Tax Series is the brainchild of Director General Rodelio Dascil, MNSA, who believes that the general public has the right to know how their government intends to put the people at the center of development via tax reform.

By

Maria Lucrecia R. Mir, PhD, MNSA Direct Taxes Branch

TAX FORUM SERIES 1: DOF Unveils Tax Reform Package

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“The concept of taxation may be too technical or even too harsh for the

comprehension of the ordinary man and even for most of us here in this room. But we have to admit that this is the bloodline that supports not only the operations of the entire bureaucracy, but also the lives of the Filipino people.”

Dir. Bong Villanueva, Emcee, Tax Policy and Administration Branch

Held on September 29 at the Senate of the Philippines, the Tax Forum Series 1 began with a prayer led by Ms. Angelique Patag.

Deputy Secretary for Legislation Edwin Bellen said in his opening remarks that this is an opportune time to know the Duterte Administration’s plans in terms of tax reform that would complement its big and ambitious to-do list.

Senator Sonny Angara, Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, thanked the STSRO for its invaluable support behind the Committee, saying that he felt confident defending tax measures because of STSRO’s good staff work. For his insights on the proposed tax reform package, Senator Angara verbalized his plan to bring the matter to the industries and the common tao that will be affected.

Director Rechilda Gascon, Service Chief of the Tax Policy and Administration Branch introduced the guest speaker and chief panelist, Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

Meanwhile, Director Maria Lucrecia Mir, Service Chief of the Direct Taxes Branch introduced the panel of reactors, namely Atty. Benedict Tugonon (President of Tax Management Association of the Philippines), Atty. Fredieric Landicho (Partner at Navarro-Amper and Company), and Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad (Chair, Tax Committee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

By way of closing remarks, Director General Rodelio Dascil assured the Chairperson of STSRO’s continued dedicated quality service as the technical arm of the Committee on Ways and Means, and asked the audience to look forward to the next Tax Forum.

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DOF Proposed Tax Reform Package

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* Prepared by: Mr. Clinton S. Martinez, SLSO II, ODG

Comments made by Senator Sonny Angara during the organizational meeting and initial public hearing of the Committee on Ways and Means held last 25 August 2016, highlighting the STSRO’s role, importance and accomplishments:

“X X X. AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE STSRO FOR BEING SUCH A VALUABLE AND SUPPORTIVE GROUP BEHIND THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, NOT ONLY BEHIND THE CHAIRMAN BUT ALSO BEHIND EVERY MEMBER WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE ON ISSUES PERTAINING TO TAX. I THINK HALF OF THE BILLS WE PASSED IN SIXTEENTH CONGRESS HAD TAX IMPLICATIONS AND THEY NEEDED THE HELP OF THE STSRO. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THAT.”

The Observance of Legislative Process. - Senator Sonny Angara in an article published in the Philippine Star dated October 2, 2016 stressed that he does not oppose the proposal to adjust the rates so long as the proper law-making procedure is followed. He wants the income tax brackets adjusted by indexing it to inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI) as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to provide immediate tax relief and raise the take-home pay of Filipino workers. He added that this “is truly long overdue.” He further mentioned that the threshold amount of P500,000.00 provided in the 1997 Tax Code does not have the same value at present because of inflation.

*

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Registration Committee

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Arrival of

Guests, Participants and

Speakers

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Staff and Friends

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Guests and Participants

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Resource Persons, Reactors,

Organizers and Moderator

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Editors and Contributing Writers

Atty. RODELIO T. DASCIL, MNSA Director General

Atty. EMMANUEL M. ALONZO

Director III, Legal & Tariff RECHILDA B. GASCON, MNSA Director III, Tax Policy & Admin

MARIA LUCRECIA R. MIR, PhD DA, MNSA Director III, Direct Taxes

VIVIAN A. CABILING Director III, Indirect Taxes

NORBERTO M. VILLANUEVA Director II, Tax Policy & Admin

ELVIRA P. CRUDO Director II, Direct Taxes

Atty. SHERRY ANNE C. SALAZAR Director II, Indirect Taxes

BONIFACIO R. JOSON LSA-III, ODG - Layout Artist

CLINTON S. MARTINEZ SLSO II, ODG

The Articles were principally prepared by the authors, under the supervision of STSRO Directors and the overall guidance of its Director-General.

The views and opinions expressed are those of STSRO and do not necessarily reflect those of the Senate, its leadership, or its individual members. For comments and suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

TAXBITS is an official publication of the Senate Tax Study and Research Office (STSRO) located at Rm. 524, Senate of the Philippines, Financial Center, Pasay City.

Website : http://www.senate.gov.ph Email : [email protected] Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/stsro.stsro Telefax No. : 552-6850; Local 5506, 5508

Awarding of Certificates